Cyprus and Greece are in constant and close coordination, especially in light of Turkish threats to create new faits accomplis both on land and at sea, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries said on Thursday, in view of the illegal drilling by the Turkish drilling rig Abdul Hamid Khan
In joint statements after their meeting in Nicosia, Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said that there are six potential sites where the illegal drilling could take place and added that actions were discussed in the hope of preventing new tensions. The Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias recalled that the relevant decisions of the European Union are in force.
“We expect the drilling rig to arrive and we have also discussed some steps, in the hope that these will prevent the creation of these tensions in our Exclusive Economic Zone,” Kasoulides said.
Moreover, he said that there are more than six sites, where the illegal drilling could take place, recalling that the decision on where exactly it will take place will be taken by the Turkish President himself. He noted that the six potential areas are not limited to the Cypriot EEZ.
The Greek Foreign Minister said that they are in constant and close coordination, especially under the threat of an attempt to create new faits accomplis, both on land and at sea, despite international law and despite the law of the sea.
He recalled that the relevant EU decisions are valid and said that “we expect Turkey to comply with these decisions”.
As regards Ukraine, Dendias noted that the international community had not reacted in the case of the Turkish invasion agaist Cyprus in same manner as it did with the invasion against Ukraine. The invasion and illegal occupation of territories in Ukraine is not the only example of invasion in Europe, he noted.
Dendias said that revisionism has ceased to be an acceptable practice and it is not possible for the international community to accept it even in a passive manner.
He recalled that both Cyprus and Greece have taken a principled stand, fully implementing the European sanctions despite the cost on their societies.
Referring to the same issue, Kasoulides stressed that just like Ukraine, the Cyprus issue was and remains a matter of invasion and occupation.
“The same principles that are violated in the case of Ukraine, are also violated in the case of Cyprus for 48 consecutive years,” he underlined.
Furthermore, Kasoulides said that the continuous violations of international law and UN resolutions as well as Turkey’s ongoing hybrid tactics create a difficult environment that we must face.
He referred to a crescendo of provocative Turkish rhetoric, constant threats on behalf of Ankara and a harsh public debate on foreign policy issues.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs assured that our side will continue to follow the path of rationality, which is none other than that of international law, international treaties, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as European principles and values.
As regards the Cyprus issue, he said that despite the efforts of Cyprus President to promote Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), the Turkish Cypriot side rejected them and talked about a ‘two state’ solution.
“The goal was and continues to be the solution of the Cyprus issue, on the agreed basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation, in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council,” he stressed.
The Greek Foreign Minister expressed his support for the CBMs submitted by the Cypriot President and expressed regret for the expected rejection by the Turkish Cypriot side.
“We share your realistic approach regarding the prospects for the resumption of the negotiations, which unfortunately are not auspicious,” Dendias said.
He rejected and condemned any proposal for a ‘two state’ solution and said that the solution of the Cyprus problem in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation on the basis of the UN resolutions and the EU acquis is the top priority of Greek foreign policy.
The only positive thing, he concluded, is that the discussion at the UNSC on the text for the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate took place in a consensual climate, despite the general polarisation which prevails.
Source: Cyprus News Agency